10 Nirvana Covers Better Than The Original

Nirvana’s career may have lasted only a few short years, but did they ever make the most of their time. In three studio albums and change they became the biggest band in the world, pioneering a scene whose influence is still felt today. Their records are packed with songs which quickly became classics.

Along with the dynamite originals, though, Nirvana found time to cover a great deal of songs, both by artists they loved and admired and those less obviously inspirational to Cobain et al. Their live shows were peppered with snippets of songs by Boston and KISS to name but a few.

Indeed they were so open about their musical loves that they laid several of their covers down on tape - and in doing so, quite often trumped the originals. Whether the quality musicianship of Nirvana put them ahead of the source material, reinvented older tunes, or simply showed a lighter side of the band, they had a knack of making songs their own.

Performed sincerely or ironically, faithfully or otherwise, these 10 songs were given a new lease of life by the Seattle trio, sometimes to the point that you’d forget they’re not Nirvana originals.

Kurt Cobain was particularly vocal about his musical influences, and a key band for the Nirvana frontman was Scottish two piece The Vaselines. Nirvana tackled a few of their tunes, and probably the most famous is this one, found on their much beloved Unplugged album.

“Jesus Don’t Want Me For A Sunbeam” is a wry take on Christian music, and accordingly is right in Cobain’s boundary pushing wheelhouse. The version on Unplugged keeps the melody and melancholic tone of the Vaselines original but adds beautiful texture with subtle harmonies, cello, and a rare accordion turn from bassist Krist Novoselic.

Less well known but possibly better still is their full band version, recorded on a 1991 tour. Played in the typical Nirvana style, it fights right into their catalogue. Whether Cobain is crooning or sneering the lyrics, it’s a song he clearly loves playing, and they make it their own even more when switching out the string breaks for a choppy guitar solo.